I was lying in a hospital bed recovering from an emergency D&C. I had given birth to a beautiful baby that morning in a free-standing birth center with a midwife. After he was born, things had gotten complicated. His placenta had grown into the muscle wall of my uterus and wouldn’t detach. So, after some heavy bleeding, I found myself taking a ride in an ambulance and facing a D&C or a hysterectomy to save my life. When all was said and done, the D&C had been sufficient and I was recovering with my uterus intact.
But as I lay there, I prayed a prayer that would probably seem strange to most people. I wasn’t praying for a quick recovery. I lay there in my hospital bed and asked the Lord if I had caused this complication.
You see, 22 years before, I had attended my first Basic Seminar. There I had heard that if you fear something, you set in motion some sort of cosmic force that works to cause your fear to come to pass. This “principle” is based on Job’s confession that the thing he had feared came upon him. (See Job 3:25)
During the weeks leading up to my son’s birth, I had been dealing with fear of labor. I had specifically feared bleeding to death.
So, as I lay in that hospital bed, I was thinking that my fear may have caused this rather rare complication.
And I asked Him if that’s what had happened.
A verse in the Bible instantly came to my mind. I still take that as His answer. The verse that was echoing in my heart was, “I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all of my fears.” (Psalm 34:4).
I cannot even describe the freedom that came to me as I realized that for 20 years I had been believing a lie. God delivers His children from their fears, not to their fears.
Now, I realize how crazy this concept was. It’s nothing more than superstition under the guise of being “Biblical.” How silly to teach the children of God that they have nothing to fear but fear itself. Scripture says we have nothing to fear other than God Himself.
And then to think I had lived in bondage to that fear for over 20 years. I only wish I could go back and claim my new-found freedom earlier. But we know that’s impossible. Instead, I get to rejoice in the two gifts God gave me that hot Texas summer day… a beautiful son and the realization that my God is a good God. He walks with me when I fear and frees me from my fears; He doesn’t turn me over to them.
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~ Isaiah 9:6
That verse, with that teaching attached, has caused me more fear than anything else I learned in IBLP. I can completely relate to the relief when you realized it was a lie. I suspect there are lots of others of us who heard the same thing, so thanks for this post!
I knew that "lie" too. Ironically, Proverbs 10:24 says what the *wicked* fear will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. This sounds like it would contradict Job's verse (he was Godly). However, I think there is something we don't know about Job that would make his story and the proverb "agree".
I don't think we have to make the verses "agree." Proverbs are general truisms (there are a lot of exceptions to them), and the verse in Job is poetry. Neither are good foundations for building doctrine.
I think that all we need to know about Job is found in the book. What happened to him happened because God was bragging on him. :-) It glorified God to show Himself strong the way He did.
It would probably be hard to find a parent that hasn't, at one time or another, feared that something bad would happen to their child. But if something bad happens, it's not because of that fear.
Thank you, Ileata. Love this!
I was so encouraged reading your story! How beautiful and true that we don't need to be afraid of fear! I remember hearing and thinking that too - my fears might come true. I love what you said, "God delivers His children from their fears, not to their fears". And the verse you shared is so encouraging too! Amen! Thanks for sharing your heart, it encouraged me to see God's goodness and love again in a new way.
Wow, I really never thought about this before I read your article. I just realized I had done that too,I have feared the same thing for so many years. I also, wish I would have seen this before. Wow, what a God we have!!! Thank you for sharing...
Thank you for writing this story. I came across this website on the internet, and chose to read your story because the title looked interesting. The answer that Jesus gave you about fears is something that I needed to read today. I am a person who has struggled all my life with a slight disability and various health conditions. I have often been troubled by thoughts that my personal fears of being sick have led to more health troubles for me. Thank you for sharing the verse!
What a beautiful way of summing it up--"We have nothing to fear but God Himself."
Wow! The story of Job is an account....the things Job and his friends did and said does not make them spiritual truths. They are truthfully stated. Thanks, reading your story today is helping to bring down a strong hold.
This is very encouraging. I too had these same fears. Fear of FEAR.
I've experienced a similar situation and I empathize for/with you.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for writing this! I grew up in ATI for 10 years (thankfully my parents have since been delivered from this way of thinking). I had been taught that when anything negative happened, it was the consequence of rebellion, sin, etc. Although my family and I have since been delivered from the clutches of ATI and their beliefs, those ideas that had been so firmly planted in my mind as a child still haunt me to this day. Recently, I went through a similar experience to what you described, and I spent days wracking my brain for any sin I could have committed to cause such pain for my husband and I! Your story has touched me and helped me to come to the realization that "God delivers His children from their fears, not to their fears." Thank you so much!